Weekly Thread: January 3-January 9

[54mama]

I think we are due for a new thread here... I hope I'm right. I've been totally out of touch with this board and all other things online as we were away for a week for the holidays and sinse returning our computer has stopped working for the second time in a month (so frustrating). I have a loner now so I've been playing catch up here and on email...quite a task!

I'm feeling good, remembering funny things about being pregnant again (I drop EVERYTHING and while normally a morning person who jumps right up I want to laze in bed for hours). My stomach popped over the holidays... still haven't had random comments from strangers yet, but I think I'm past the "pregnant or dipping into the Ben and Jerry's a bit too much?" phase. I saw my midwife just before we left for Chirstmas and still don't have a firm due date! I thought it would be the 10th of June but an early ultrasound put me at the 21st... not a huge deal as the babe will come when s/he does, but still I'd like to at least be able to say I'm 16 weeks, or 17.5 weeks. The nice thing is my midwife is trying to be careful about how we select the date to allow me to carry the longest without having to discuss induction, but also being sure placenta is fine etc etc.

Others still nursing? We're still at it, although my daughter is being funny about it... asking to nurse then when I get ready she shakes her head no, asking my husband to nurse (which she has never done), refusing the few regular nursings we have. I think my milk is changing... I can barely get any out (and none unless my daughter has just nursed) but when I have it seems darker and yellower, closer to the newborn super fatty milk. Maybe she's finding the taste strange and I think there is way less, so I assume that is what the odd behavior is about. I'm really looking forward to nursing a newborn as opposed to an octopus... a sweet quite babe who nurses and nurses, gets pink cheeked and milk-drunk and then spits up all over me. So in reference to the Baby Hungry post, I guess I'm there!

Have a great week everyone.

[Shell_Ell]

Yes, we're still nursing. I thought for a week or so that he was close to weaning, and then he started nursing 3x a day again. I'm just grateful for each day he continues.

I have been dealing with a bit of the blues the past few days, I'm not exactly sure what it's all about. DS is at a very demanding age and I've been feeling guilty that i don't stop to think about the baby as often as I probably should.

My midwife had her prenatal group last night and we went. I can't say it was terribly enlightening but it was good to be around other women. DH came but I think he'll stay home for the next few. He's really not into the whole thing. Does anyone else have this issue? He is very supportive but he's just not interested. For that reason I know he's not a good support person in labor.

[wombatclay]

Well...this week I get my level II u/s and we should know if our babe is healthy or if not, what we need to plan for. So fingers crossed and healthy baby vibes are welcome! The appointment is Monday morning so I'll let everyone know how it goes.

I got my first "are you pregnant" from a lady who works at the coffee shop in the library where I work. So I guess my move into "real" maternity clothes was just in time. I went to our local mama thrift shop an got a few pairs of casual pants (my Target Liz Lange transtition pants from last pregnancy still fit fine, but I've only go two pair and their a bit dressy for home...it was wonderful to pick up blue jeans and khakis and I really needed a few tops that would cover the "belly band")

We're still nursing and DD doesn't seem to be letting up. I was a little annoyed at my doctor at my last appointment actually...husband/wife team and the wife used to be a LLL leader. And she's still nursing their 21mo. Anyway, I saw the husband last time and he wondered if dd was still nursing. When I said yes he was surprised since in his experience most kids wean during mama's pregnancy. Which is fine! But his next comment annoyed me..."Well, keep on going, it's not going to hurt the baby, but just remember mothers who tandem nurse get old before their time. It's a lot of stress on your body you know!". I don't think he was being mean or anything, but the comment was inappropriate IMO.

We'll be going to the local Birth Group for a refresher class at some point. It's a very casual group (started decades ago to promote homebirth, though now it covers all sorts of birth options) and I've attended the full session twice (once while pregnant with dd, then again as a doula for certification purposes). I know I'm not going to "learn" anything new, but it will be nice to be around other pregnant mamas with a leaning towards "natural" birth.

[herbmama3-7]

Good luck with your appt. on Monday, Wombatclay, sending love to you and the babe.
Doing good here, my belly sure has popped, I saw my midwife yesterday, things look good, we still didn't hear the heartbeat, because we are waiting until we can hear it with the fetoscope, maybe by the next visit as I will be 21 weeks then. My blood pressure was low, I need to research what that means and what to do about it.l I have been having quite a few headaches, and dizzy spells, I think related to the low blood pressure, anyone else have this problem? Anyway getting more snow hear in the mountains, there has been a major storm weekly for the past 3 weeks, it's getting old!:
Not nursing, ds weened himself 3 weeks before I got pregnant, but I was really sad about it, now I am looking forward to nursing this little angel!

[tls]

Shell_Ell, My DH is the same way. He does not want to take Bradley classes again. I'm so glad my SIL is my doula. She is very supportive and excited for me. DH just doesn't take much interest in the whole pregnancy and birth. In fact, I think he is much more involved with the kids now that they are older. I think babies are just not that exciting to him, which is fine. He'll be good at occupying the older kids when I need to be with the baby .

Herbmama, what is your blood pressure at, if I may ask? I think my BP is around 112/60 which sounds low to me but may be normal. I too have been having headaches but I think I need to drink more water. In my uneducated way I thought low BP was good during pregnancy but I really don't know.

DS seems to have weaned although he was sick this week and asked to nurse a few times. Otherwise he only asks 2-3 times a week I think, and that is when he sees or feels my breasts or sometimes if I lay down next to him. On an exciting note, DS is on his way to being potty trained! We have been trying off and on for over a year to get him on the potty but he always refused. This week DH is home with him and he has spent most of the time in underwear. I am so happy cuz I was not looking forward to having 2 in diapers. Yay.

[mataji4]

herbmama-
i too had low blood pressure issues in my pregnancies. my normal non-pregnant blood pressure was always about 110/80 or so, but in pregnancy it would go as low as 90/50! yes, having low blood pressure can cause headaches (not enough oxygen to the brain on top of the cut because of blood directing instead to the uterus), dizziness, fatigue. on top of that i have hypoglycemia when pregnant, so i'm sort of a mess. in labor with my 2nd, i had a really hard time. i labored in the birth tub some during active labor, but found my arm and hand falling asleep/getting all tingly, which freaked me out, so i got out. but once out i felt super faint and almost passed out, having to lie on my back-yuck!- with my feet up and breathe into a bag. that was such a scary labor moment. i thought "how can i give birth if i'm passed out??" i got through fine, but a few hours after her birth i stood up to go pee and just fainted back onto the bed so was on bedrest for a few days. since being in the water is a good tool for *lowering blood pressure*, i would really discourage women with low blood pressure from laboring in water- it felt yucky.
but for some reason this pregnancy, my blood pressure isn't dropping so much and isn't causing me a problem. i only feel it in yoga, with all the up and down, i have to be careful. and getting up in general from lying in bed, i have to do slowly.
the cause? mine is hereditary- all the women in my family have low bp.

[herbmama3-7]

Thank you mataj4, that is the most information I have been able to find on lbp, I am definately not happy about it, think I need to start exercising more to get my blood moving, well see, anyway thanks for the tips!

[rock_dr]

I too am a low blood pressure queen - 88/60 consistently at every appointment! And hypoglycemic too, no matter what I eat/drink or how often. I walk around in a dizzy haze most of the time. Should be interesting when I start back teaching a grad level class next week! Anyway, herbmama and mataji4 and others, you're not alone!

One hopeful thought is that once our increasing blood volume catches up with dilating blood vessels, we might feel better.

Had 'the' ultrasound today. Had to go the the hospital for it - I bet my blood pressure was up pretty high the entire time just being there. Very busy/noisy waiting room, which I got to sit in for almost an hour after my appointment time before they called me. All in all I didn't like it at all, just felt icky the whole time. Seemed like everything with baby is fine though, only disconcerting thing was the US tech asking me if I had any known fibroids. Oh, and I always forget my LMP so I end up saying 'well I ovulated on Sept 9 so just take 2 weeks from that.' US lady looked at my like I was crazy.

didn't find out the sex!

Jillian - weren't you having US today too? Did you end up finding out?

[Jilian]

Wombatclay: I really hope your level 2 u/s goes well. I'll be sending positive vibes your way

Herbmama: I also have low blood pressure, I've had it for about a year now. It's a pain in the butt but it can be managed. I carry gatorade, salted nuts, and pretzel sticks with me for a boost whenever I'm feeling really dizzy. My primary care dr. prescribed me some salt tablets before I got preg because I was having frequent dizzy spells.

Rock Dr: I'm glad the u/s went well. I can never remember when my LMP was either so I give my O/conception date and people think I'm crazy too! I think it's cool that you didn't find out, we caved in and found out

I had my u/s today and it went well. For a while we could only see 2 chambers in the heart but then the baby moved and we could see 4. I was really scared for a few minutes there. We found out the sex, it's another little boy. Honestly, I was a little sad for a few minutes but I'm happy now. I feel like I really bonded with him and I got some cute 4D pics of his face. He has the cutest little nose

[cjanelles]

This has been a fun week, baby-wise for me (otherwise it has sucked a big fat weenie, and it wasn't even kosher).

Had the Lev II U/S on Wednesday. Baby looks perfectly healthy will all of her parts functioning and in place. Strong heartbeat. Big head. Big belly. Just like her daddy.

Oh, and she's a she, according to the sonographer...I got a pretty clear shot when she was taking the femur measurements and I definitely didn't see any suspicious parts. LOL

Baby Willow has been very active this week, but not quite so that she's readily available for my husband or kids to experience the kicking and wiggling. I, on the other hand, feel like I'm getting kick-boxed from the inside-out.

Now that we know she's really a girl, I'm anxious to start preparing to decorate the nursery, buy furniture and clothes and all the fun stuff.

I'm also feeling better physically...which is a relief.

[vannienicole]

Went to the OB on Wednesday for a check up. Of all the docs at this terrible military hospital, he is by far my fav. He talked about the pros and cons of the quad screening (which I turned down) and helped me think of new ideas for my sciatic pain. There's no chiropractor out here, so I am trying to make do. Anyways, baby's heart rate was in the 140s or so. We actaully found it this time with the doppler (that's what it's called right? I am so bad with naming medical technology ). My daughter was an angel during the appt. I had to take her because my husband couldn't get the hour off.

I finally remembeed my prenatal vitamin again last night during dinner. So once a week isn't ideal but I am trying. U/S is scheduled for January 31. My husband is taking a snowboarding trip to Hokkaido that week, so if I find out, I get to surprise him. He is also finally warming up to the pregnancy and actually called the baby moving "exciting" last night. My heart just about burst. Welcome to week 17, sweetheart!f

I really ope this one is a girl because he is determined to name a boy Sean. With that spelling. For me, I do like that name...with a passion. It just doesn't fit with our last name at all. There's no arguing about it though. Grr....I am going to name this kiddo Liam or something. He didn't even want another kid and he gets to name it? (As you can tell I am still a bit sore about this). I am working through it all though.

I hope everyone's weekend is great and that everyone stays as healthy as possible (that includes Baby!)

[saratchka]

Another member of the low blood pressure club, here. I think it was 92/60 or somthing close to that last time. I've been having dizzy spells and lots of "floaters" in my vision. It's inconvenient, but I haven't felt in danger of passing out yet, which is good. I usually have low blood pressure, but it seems to get worse in pregnancy. This time is worse than last, but that may simply be because I'm chasing a toddler! MW recommended more food in general, more protein in particular, and more water to help out.

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who can't remember to take my vitamins. I've been absolutely terrible about it, and I feel guilty as heck. But I honestly can't seem to remember the things!

We've had two u/s so far, and I don't know when/if we'll have the third (and probably final) sonogram. The last one was at 16 weeks. The tech was very thorough, but it wasn't an official level 2, so I'll see how MW feels about one more scan to check for all those lovely anatomical measurements. I'm pretty comfortable with u/s though I wasn't expecting to have more than one or two this pregnancy.

For those of you with uninterested husbands, I'm sorry to hear that they're less than enthusiastic. DH is really excited about this baby. (I was the one who wanted to wait longer - or perhaps forever - for another.) But even with that excitement, he's far less attentive and enthralled than he was last time. I think it's hard for men to connect with pregnancies and very young babies sometimes. I know DH has been consistently more interested in DD each month as she's become more of a kid and less of a baby. He always loved her, but now he enjoys her much more.

I've started a homebirthing group in my area through the Meetup website. I'm kinda astonished that we already have 8 members! We're actually planning a get-together sometime in the next couple weeks. I'm really excited to meet some other homebirthing moms IRL. So far I only know a handful, and two of those are my aunt and my MW. This is the least diverse area I've ever lived in, and it can be a little difficult to find/connect with others outside the mainstream.

I think that's all the news here!

[mamallama]

wombatclay--Healthy baby vibes coming your way

Jilian--have you decided if you're telling the sex or keeping it private?

I'm in the low blood pressure club too. And I tend to have low blood sugar. It gave me some trouble after my last birth. I'm a little worried about it, to be honest. I'm thinking of using methergine preventatively this time...of course the trade off is wicked after-pains, but at least I'll be conscious for them!

I've had a lot of symptoms lately--headaches, dizziness upon standing, fatigue. It's far worse when I don't have morning coffee. I'd like to enjoy coffee once or twice a week, but for the past several weeks I've felt terrible the times I've tried to skip it. Hopefully I can get off the caffeine in a few weeks when my blood volume expands.

Otherwise, I'm doing ok. My window is closing on scheduling the 20wk u/s if I
want to have it done in time to determine the sex...I don't think I'm going to do it, but sometimes when I think about the possibility of having a boy, I think it might be better to know now. I might need some time to get used to the idea.

[Jilian]

It sounds like everyone is doing well, that is great!

Cjanelles: I'm anxious to start decorating the nursery too, and we barely even used it with DS. There is something about seeing a little baby room that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside I remember that we didn't set up DS's nursery until I was about 8 mos pregnant and it was EXHAUSTING for me. I'd like to enjoy it this time. And of course I'm a planner so it makes me feel better knowing that everything is taken care of.

[Jilian]

Originally Posted by mamallama

Jilian--have you decided if you're telling the sex or keeping it private?

I
want to have it done in time to determine the sex...I don't think I'm going to do it, but sometimes when I think about the possibility of having a boy, I think it might be better to know now. I might need some time to get used to the idea.

It's another boy! I was sad a little at first because I really wanted a girl but now I'm really excited about it. I'm glad I found out, I think if I spent the whole pregnancy thinking it was a girl and then it was a boy I'd be more upset. My sister (who is 37 weeks preg) is having a boy too, so our boys can grow up together.

So I really know what you mean about needing time to get used to the idea of having a certain sex baby.

[mommamin]

Originally Posted by wombatclay

Well...this week I get my level II u/s and we should know if our babe is healthy or if not, what we need to plan for. So fingers crossed and healthy baby vibes are welcome! The appointment is Monday morning so I'll let everyone know how it goes.

I got my first "are you pregnant" from a lady who works at the coffee shop in the library where I work. So I guess my move into "real" maternity clothes was just in time. I went to our local mama thrift shop an got a few pairs of casual pants (my Target Liz Lange transtition pants from last pregnancy still fit fine, but I've only go two pair and their a bit dressy for home...it was wonderful to pick up blue jeans and khakis and I really needed a few tops that would cover the "belly band")

We're still nursing and DD doesn't seem to be letting up. I was a little annoyed at my doctor at my last appointment actually...husband/wife team and the wife used to be a LLL leader. And she's still nursing their 21mo. Anyway, I saw the husband last time and he wondered if dd was still nursing. When I said yes he was surprised since in his experience most kids wean during mama's pregnancy. Which is fine! But his next comment annoyed me..."Well, keep on going, it's not going to hurt the baby, but just remember mothers who tandem nurse get old before their time. It's a lot of stress on your body you know!". I don't think he was being mean or anything, but the comment was inappropriate IMO.

We'll be going to the local Birth Group for a refresher class at some point. It's a very casual group (started decades ago to promote homebirth, though now it covers all sorts of birth options) and I've attended the full session twice (once while pregnant with dd, then again as a doula for certification purposes). I know I'm not going to "learn" anything new, but it will be nice to be around other pregnant mamas with a leaning towards "natural" birth.

Good Luck with your U/S!!!

[mommamin]

Originally Posted by rock_dr

I too am a low blood pressure queen - 88/60 consistently at every appointment! And hypoglycemic too, no matter what I eat/drink or how often. I walk around in a dizzy haze most of the time. Should be interesting when I start back teaching a grad level class next week! Anyway, herbmama and mataji4 and others, you're not alone!

One hopeful thought is that once our increasing blood volume catches up with dilating blood vessels, we might feel better.

Had 'the' ultrasound today. Had to go the the hospital for it - I bet my blood pressure was up pretty high the entire time just being there. Very busy/noisy waiting room, which I got to sit in for almost an hour after my appointment time before they called me. All in all I didn't like it at all, just felt icky the whole time. Seemed like everything with baby is fine though, only disconcerting thing was the US tech asking me if I had any known fibroids. Oh, and I always forget my LMP so I end up saying 'well I ovulated on Sept 9 so just take 2 weeks from that.' US lady looked at my like I was crazy.

didn't find out the sex!

Jillian - weren't you having US today too? Did you end up finding out?

Funny, my blood pressure is normal at my MW's office, but my mom has a machine, due to high blood pressure issues, and everytime I take my BP is low, like ridicously low!

[mommamin]

Originally Posted by Jilian

It's another boy! I was sad a little at first because I really wanted a girl but now I'm really excited about it. I'm glad I found out, I think if I spent the whole pregnancy thinking it was a girl and then it was a boy I'd be more upset. My sister (who is 37 weeks preg) is having a boy too, so our boys can grow up together.

So I really know what you mean about needing time to get used to the idea of having a certain sex baby.

Congratulations on another BOY!!!!!!!!!

[sally Z]

we are also still nursing but for a lot shorter than before, i also think the milk has changed. DD says there is milk and her face lights up when she askes but she only last about 30seconds to 1 min latched.

Shel Ell, my dh is very uninvolved, with dd it was the same he was not much help in labourm thought i made too much fuss and was rather a negative energy. Planning to UC this time so not sure if i should have someone else there.

Wombatclaly: good luck with the u/s

Jillian: congrats on your boy and that all is well with the u/s

Cjanelles: congrats on your girl, seeme like alot of people are finding out.

vannienicole: glad to hear there are others that can't agree on a name

saratchka: well done on starting a group, i doubt i would find enough people were i stay to have a homebirth group

I am getting bad headaches with make the nausea worse. Not much fun and the other realy annoying symptom is itchy leg, but really really itchy. I can't sleep and i want to rip my skin off, nothing helps!!
we are still in the middle of discussions about mving and it might be before baby moving to a new country with a 2 year old just before birth is not what i want to be doing!

[mataji4]

vitamins! i haven't taken them since week 8 or something. every time i try to take a pill (prenatal, dha, anything), i throw it up. i try every once in a while, since i'm not nauseous anymore, i don't know why it keeps happening!

i'm terribly jealous of everyone finding out the baby's sex, but just can't convince myself that it's okay to get an u/s for no other reason than that.

mamallama, what do you mean by taking methergine preventatively to treat low pb??? do you mean you are afraid of not being able to handle blood loss? i wouldn't recommend methergine unless it is necessary in the moment due to extreme blood loss. it clamps down the uterus so intensely, that if anything is left in there- membranes or a piece of the placenta or anything- it won't come out and can cause an infection. maybe working on creating an efficient uterus now would be good, like drinking red raspberry regularly- i swear, that stuff is amazing.

i'm doing okay, feeling huge- surprising myself as i bump belly into kitchen counters and can't cross my legs anymore! last night i was lamenting about the hugeness of my belly, saying "i don't know how i have room to grow for another 20 weeks, i mean, can i get bigger than this?" and my husband said "i wish i had tape-recorded you saying that with every pregnancy!" i'm dealing with varicose veins on one shin that i get every pregnancy- have to wear a support hose and it aches anyway, yuck! and i'm feeling SUPER tired, which hasn't hit me til this week. my energy was so good til now! it's almost worse if i get a lot of sleep or nap. but OTHER than all that, i'm feeling baby moving more, and really getting baby fever, which means i want to buy all the stuff for the baby NOW!